This past Wednesday, July 29th, marked the fourth annual Finn Partners summer boat cruise. Finn Partners employees from all divisions came together, boarded the Cornucopia and spent the day dancing, toasting and dining on Manhattan’s Hudson River.

Below are reflections from MEDIA CONNECT on the annual event:

My personal highlight of the day was right after we docked, a group of us from all different departments went and played laser tag. It was so fun to feel like a kid again! We’re such a collaborative group as a whole and it always gives me a chance to reflect on how nice it is to work with people who genuinely enjoy being around one another.
One thing I observed was that a lot of people migrate to New York to have the “experience.” Working at Finn Partners, and having days like the boat cruise where we can look around and admire the city, are exactly the type of “experience” so many of us dream of when living here. -Lindsey Hall, Publicist

“Wednesday was a particularly hot day. However, in true publicist fashion, we mixed, mingled, and talked our way through the pain!” -Cori Cagide, Publicist

“I think, for me, the best part is shaking up the environment and doing something different – and enjoying some summer fun! It reminded me how important it is to have a different backdrop and reconnect with people. Of course seeing everyone’s hilarious dance moves doesn’t hurt either. I can’t say enough good things about the chilled cheesecake – a perfect dessert for a hot summer day! This year the boat went a different course than it did last year, up toward the Bronx, so it was great seeing a part of the river that I haven’t seen before.

I’m about to make a move to our DC office, so this was a great summer send-off, I feel fortunate to be a part of the Finn team.” -Anna Patrick, Digital Publicist

“In spite of the heat, we had a great day! It was so nice for the whole office to go on an outing together, and it was great to get to socialize with other divisions as well.” -Emily Labes, Associate Publicist

“My favorite part [of the cruise] was getting to know people from other divisions – while enjoying the beautiful day in the sun!” -Gayle Pitone, Associate Publicist

“Despite the intense heat, the breeze off the water felt like a luxury and the stunning views of New York and New Jersey made it an enjoyable time. Of course spending the day with your co-workers out of the office is always a bonus” -Johanna Dickson, Digital Publicist

“My favorite part was taking the group photo, and feeling the positive energy. A personal highlight would have to be seeing Richard Funess dance. Overall, the event brings people together for a fun time, and it just takes a cool breeze and a great view of the city to reinvigorate yourself!” -Brian Feinblum, Chief Marketing Officer, SVP

“I always have a grand time attending the company event of the season. As one who resides on an island, it’s always great to actually board a boat and view the scenery from the ocean! The food was great and I loved talking to staffers I never get a chance to meet routinely.” -Dawn, Receptionist

Which books are the all-time bestsellers? Let’s preface the answer with this: no one really knows for sure. Why? Sales records are quite poor and incomplete, and generally favor more recent books, where things are recorded meticulously.

Think about it. Books that were printed say, 150 years ago, were sold all over the place. We didn’t have BookScan or some centralized source to identify book sales. In fact, because government records are also incomplete or get destroyed overtime, and because book sale income taxes weren’t collected until the past century – there really is no way to know how many copies of a book were sold. Unscrupulous publishers would print and sell more copies of a book than they told an author – dependent on royalties – had sold. Some books where copyrights don’t cover them, such as those of Shakespeare, The Bible, or Ben Franklin, allow for multiple publishers and multiple nations to print and sell books and no one is adding them all up. Let’s also not forget pirated book sales that continue today in places like China. No one is adding them up either. And what of books published under pseudonyms, where the author’s identity was never uncovered?

So, having said all of the above, there are some noble attempts to gather up sales figures and estimated sales of the all-time bestselling fictional books. One such effort was undertaken for an entry in Wikipedia.

I am from Cleveland. Anyone who has spent more than 15 minutes with me knows that. Typical of most Clevelanders, when people ask me where I’m from, I’m most inclined to talk about the erratic weather, the fact that our river has caught on fire multiple times (and how we pronounce “fire,” which is “fie-yur”), and/or Lebron James.

However, I have recently added a new talking point to my roster of Midwestern small-talk topics – the fact that, for the most part, our manners are beyond reproach. I may curse like a sailor when I’m in the company of family and trusted friends; but I always say “please,” and “thank you,” I always chew with my mouth closed and keep one hand in my lap while I’m eating, I never place my elbows on the dinner table, and I always, always look people in the eye when I am speaking to them.

Supposedly these are traits that are inherently present in most Americans who are over the age of five; but Midwesterners approach manners with an Emily Post-like reverence. I don’t know whether it’s more of a ritual or a compulsion, but it is as ingrained in us as our all-American accents.

Although I do not needlessly apologize nearly as much as my mom does, after almost two years at MEDIA CONNECT, I still find myself blurting out “Sorry to bother you, but…” upon entering my coworkers’ offices – even when I am there by appointment. Then I inevitably apologize for apologizing, and the cycle continues.

The following article is a part of our Deskscape Series. Many of us spend up to eight or nine hours at our desks per day, making our “deskscapes” a creative reflection of the book publicity work we do for our clients every day.

Senior Partner David Hahn shares some of his favorite parts of his deskscape:

My 10th grade English teacher, Mr. Schomborg, always greeted us with a boisterous “Happy Friday!” each and every Friday of the school year. I never quite understood the energy or broad smile that accompanied that statement at the time. But today – today being a beautiful summer Friday in the Big Apple – I fully appreciate that sentiment, having put in 2,000 or so (who’s counting) working Fridays since that time.

And as such there is a carton of munchkins on my desk to be shared with the MEDIA CONNECT staff. Nothing pleases me more at work than a nice simple surprise, especially when it’s food. So assuming that everyone else feels the same way I do (don’t they?), I try to help relieve the weariness sometimes felt at the beginning of a Friday workday with this simple gesture. And isn’t that a very satisfying feeling when you pop one of those munchkins in your mouth, especially a fresh jelly one!

Also on my desk is a mug created by the talented Arden potter, Alan Burslem. It serves as a fine pen and pencil holder. But it more importantly serves as a reminder of my roots, coming from this idyllic, unique pastoral small town to be found just north of Wilmington, Delaware.

Like most other boomers I know, I have an extremely fond memory of my childhood, especially in terms of the unfettered freedom we had to simply play. And playing in Sherwood Forest, on the Arden Greens, and riding bikes playing cops and robbers up and down Sherwood Road, Lovers lane and Miller Road will forever define who I am and what I hold dear. The mug reminds me of the importance of finding some sort of artistic grace in all that we do as well as the wonderful energy and creativity that can be found in simple play – as elusive as that may be.

The following business events calendar appeared in the the latest edition of the MEDIA CONNECT newsletter. To subscribe for future editions, click here.

Every business author should be anticipating certain annual events during the year for possible tie in interviews. Bylined articles and op-eds could also be submitted around these events. Examples are Labor Day, the annual Berkshire Hathaway Stockholders Meeting, and the annual issue of Fortune’s Best 100 Places to Work. In addition, you can create your own tie in. While it sounds artificial, the media does respond to specific days and/or months that been given a specific theme. For instance, February is “Time Management Month”. April is “Workplace Conflict Awareness” month and so on. If you create an event with a specific theme and message and promote it properly, you may be surprised at the media attention you are able to garner!

Chris Stewart, Co-author of the New York Times bestseller, The Miracle of Freedom: Seven Tipping Points That Saved the World, has set out to help us understand the history of democracy, and to see that many historical events that led us to the freedom we enjoy today are inextricably linked.

The long march to freedom revolves around pivotal events spanning over thousands of years, which Stewart explores in his book, and discussed with us in the following Q&A:

MEDIA CONNECT: What is your book about?

Chris Stewart: It’s about the long and incredibly hazardous road that the world had to march in order to get to the day when many of us are able to enjoy the blessing of freedom. It’s about the long string that runs through word history that ties all of these events together, as if there was a sense of purpose to it all. It’s about the amazing conflicts and sacrifices that had to take place in order for freedom to develop and survive. It is an exploration of some of the most important events in world history – epic and world-changing events – which were indispensable stepping-stones toward the expanded freedom and democracy that we have today.

MC: Your bestselling book is now being released in paperback. Are you surprised at all of the positive attention your book has thus received?

CS: I don’t know if I’m surprised, but I’m certainly honored. At its core, this book is about freedom. It’s about the incredibly long and dangerous road that the world had to march in order to get to this point where so many people enjoy the miracle of freedom. That’s something that, on a gut level, many people understand and relate to. I think that helps explain why the book has done so well.

MC: When you originally published it a few years ago, you were not a member of Congress at the time. What inspired your recent run for office?

CS: People ask me that all the time. I was an air force pilot, successful writer and business owner. I’d never thought about running for office. But I felt like our nation was in trouble and I wanted to get into the fight. Writing this book reminded me of what an incredible blessing freedom is and how fragile that blessing is. That led me to want to get involved in a way that I hadn’t been before. It’s much like what happened to me when I was younger. As a senior in college, I was on my way to law school when I suddenly decided that I wanted to serve in the military instead. I decided to run for congress for much the same reason. I thought I could help and I wanted to try.

The following Q&A appeared in the the latest edition of the MEDIA CONNECT newsletter. To subscribe for future editions, click here.

MEDIA CONNECT: Do you mind being approached by an author directly instead of through an agent?
Matt Holt: Direct communication with authors is welcome. Everyone is connected, it’s easy to get to an editor through another author, LinkedIn, or just an internet search.

MC: Do you need to see a whole book or do sample chapters work for you?
MH: We rarely need to see an entire book, unless it’s designed or visual or packaged in a way that helps us understand the project better.

MC: What types of business books do you specialize in?
MH: We specialize in mostly in books written by practitioners, books that teach something to someone, solve a problem and deal with a pain point.

The following Q&A appeared in the the latest edition of the MEDIA CONNECT newsletter. To subscribe for future editions, click here.

MC: Do you mind being approached by an author directly instead of through an agent?
Ellen Kadin: Not at all.

MC: Do you need to see a whole book or do sample chapters work for you?
EK: Sample chapters work well. I usually like to see the introductory chapter and at least one chapter from the meat of the book. In some cases though, it’s actually better for the author to have completed only sample chapters; if, say, we have a different vision for the structure or contents of the author’s book, and the author ends up publishing with us, it’s better for the author not to have invested all the time and effort it would have taken to complete the manuscript.

MC: What types of business books do you specialize in?
EK: In addition to publishing books on General Business and Entrepreneurship topics, I specialize in Business Self-help; Career; and Marketing.

MC: What are some of your recent successes?
EK: We just came out with the paperback edition of one of my all-time favorite books, Mark Goulston’s JUST LISTEN: Discover the Secret to Getting through to Absolutely Anyone, whose hardcover edition has been one of our best sellers for years. The book recently passed the 100,000-copies-sold mark.

The following Q&A appeared in the the latest edition of the MEDIA CONNECT newsletter. To subscribe for future editions, click here.

MEDIA CONNECT: What information do you need from an author on their initial contact with you?
Tom Miller: I prefer to get queries by email first. In that query, the author should briefly include the proposed title of the proposal, the subject of the book, the main audience/s for the book, the author’s credentials, and the author’s marketing/publicity platform. The author should also say whether or not he or she has a full proposal and/or a partial or full manuscript. By the way, for an agent, having a proposal and one or two sample chapters is preferable to getting a full manuscript.

MC: Do you consider content or platform first?
TM: Business books are business propositions. Content is crucial, and it’s very important that the author’s proposed book has a clear subject, a sharp focus, a defined market and audience, and, ideally, a strongly articulated promise and benefit for the intended audience. The book should have a fresh new hook — something that seems new and different from what’s already on the shelf.

Regarding platform, the most successful business authors are regarded as thought leaders in their fields. Thought leaders almost always have big platforms. With all commercial nonfiction, which business books almost always are, an author’s platform is just as important as the content. When a project’s author doesn’t have a good platform, a publisher will often turn down the project even if the content is excellent.

The following Q&A appeared in the the latest edition of the MEDIA CONNECT newsletter. To subscribe for future editions, click here.

MEDIA CONNECT: Do you mind being approached by an author directly instead of through an agent?
Donya Dickerson: I do take unsolicited manuscripts as long as they are in the business category.

MC: Do you need to see a whole book or do sample chapters work for you?
DD: Definitely sample chapters but the most important piece is the proposal. People will sometimes send a whole book without an actual proposal. I’m not going to look at any sample materials before reading the proposal first.

MC: What types of business books do you specialize in?
DD: High-level business books that cover topics such as management, leadership, strategy, and culture. They need to be books that help people be more successful. I’ve worked on several books about leading global companies, like Starbucks, Caterpillar, The Ritz-Carlton, and more. I also acquire books on sales and marketing as well as critical business skills.

Blogroll

All of us here at AAA would like to thank you for the terrific job you did on the tour.
We are 100% pleased and impressed with everything-- the great radio coverage, good mix of stations across the U.S. and your excellent handling of all details. JEANNINE YEOMANS, AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah, Manager Public Affairs and Community Services